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DayZedandconFUSED - 03/10

The Lee Dorsey Run or ‘Working in the Coalmine’!

And another MG day out dawned bright and clear. We were meeting in a lay-by on the A1237 but Uncle Frank Ashworth couldn't find the right one so we eventually all met up at the services at Bilbrough Top.

Off we went to the National Mining Museum at the other side of Wakefield via Towton, Garforth, Swillington etc. When we got to Wakefield there was no indication on the road sign which way we should turn but we got on the right road more by luck than anything else and duly arrived at the museum.

First stop was a comfort break and then Dave (of Dunnington) booked us all on the underground tour. After an early lunch and a browse around some of the exhibits we went on the underground tour. This is not for the faint hearted. First we went to the Lamp Room to get our helmets and lamps and to leave any items not allowed underground and then to the cage to collect our tokens and be lowered 450ft down the shaft. It was a tight squeeze in the cage as there were some ladies who were of a fuller figure (and also some tall men).

 When we got to the bottom our guide took us and told us about how mining had developed over the centuries from pick and shovel to the mechanisation that there is today in the remaining mines. It was quite a walk through all of the tunnels and passage ways some of which were quite low. Being the tallest Mike kept banging his head on the low roof and every time he bent down his helmet fell off but a slight adjustment by our guide soon had that sorted out! At the bottom of the shaft the guide showed us where we had been on our tour and at one point we had been directly below the car park entrance. After that it was back to the surface, hand in our tokens and collect our belongings.

Then it was back to the cafe for a drink and a sit down. Mike and Dave decided to head for home but Frank John and I stayed a little longer. We went to look at the pit head baths and to visit the pit ponies. Unfortunately they weren't there but there was a horse getting a pedicure. A quick look around some more exhibits and then we headed for home back the way we had come. Still in glorious sunshine and we never saw a cloud until we were almost home.

Dave Norfolk